1
|
Hu M, Lou Y, Zhu C, Chen J, Liu S, Liang Y, Liu S, Tang Y. Evaluating the Impact of Intracranial Volume Correction Approaches on the Quantification of Intracranial Structures in MRI: A Systematic Analysis. J Magn Reson Imaging 2024; 59:2164-2177. [PMID: 37702125 DOI: 10.1002/jmri.28974] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2023] [Revised: 08/10/2023] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 09/14/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In neuroscience, accurately quantifying individual brain regions in large cohorts is a challenge. Differences in intracranial structures can suggest functional differences, but they also reflect the effects of other factors. However, there is currently no standardized method for the correction of intracranial structure measurements. PURPOSE To identify the optimal method to counteract the influence of total intracranial volume (TIV) and gender on the measurement of intracranial structures. STUDY TYPE Prospective. POPULATION/SUBJECTS One hundred forty-one healthy adult volunteers (70 male, mean age 21.8 ± 1.7 years). FIELD STRENGTH/SEQUENCE T1-weighted 3D gradient-echo sequence at 3.0 T. ASSESSMENT A radiologist with 5 years of work experience screened the raw images to exclude poor-quality images. Freesurfer then performed automated segmentation to obtain measurements of intracranial structures. Male-only, female-only, and TIV-matched sub-samples were created separately. Comparisons between the original data and these sub-samples were used to assess the effects of gender and TIV. Comparison the consistency between TIV-matched sample and corrected data that corrected by four methods: Proportion method, power-corrected proportion method, covariate regression method, and residual method. STATISTICAL TESTS Cohen's d for examining group distribution disparities, t-tests for probing mean differences, correlation coefficients to assess the relationships between intracranial substructure measurements and TIV. Multiple comparison corrections were applied to the results. RESULTS The correlation coefficients between TIV and the volumes of intracranial structures ranged from 0.033 to 0.883, with an average of 0.467. Thirty significant volume differences were found among 36 structures in the original sample, while no differences were observed in the TIV-matched sample. Among the four correction methods, the residual method had highest consistency (similarity 94.4%) with the TIV-matched group. DATA CONCLUSION The variation in intracranial structure sizes between genders was largely attributable to TIV. The residual method offers a more accurate and effective approach for correcting the effects of TIV on intracranial structures. EVIDENCE LEVEL 2 TECHNICAL EFFICACY: Stage 1.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Minqi Hu
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Research Center for Sectional and Imaging Anatomy, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Mental Disorder, Shandong Key Laboratory of Digital Human and Clinical Anatomy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
- Institute of Brain and Brain-Inspired Science, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Yunxia Lou
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Research Center for Sectional and Imaging Anatomy, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Mental Disorder, Shandong Key Laboratory of Digital Human and Clinical Anatomy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
- Institute of Brain and Brain-Inspired Science, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
- Department of Ultrasound, Cheeloo Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Caiting Zhu
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Research Center for Sectional and Imaging Anatomy, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Mental Disorder, Shandong Key Laboratory of Digital Human and Clinical Anatomy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
- Institute of Brain and Brain-Inspired Science, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Jiachen Chen
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Research Center for Sectional and Imaging Anatomy, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Mental Disorder, Shandong Key Laboratory of Digital Human and Clinical Anatomy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
- Institute of Brain and Brain-Inspired Science, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Shizhou Liu
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Research Center for Sectional and Imaging Anatomy, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Mental Disorder, Shandong Key Laboratory of Digital Human and Clinical Anatomy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
- Institute of Brain and Brain-Inspired Science, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Yongfeng Liang
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Research Center for Sectional and Imaging Anatomy, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Mental Disorder, Shandong Key Laboratory of Digital Human and Clinical Anatomy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
- Department of Radiology, Cheeloo Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Shuwei Liu
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Research Center for Sectional and Imaging Anatomy, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Mental Disorder, Shandong Key Laboratory of Digital Human and Clinical Anatomy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
- Institute of Brain and Brain-Inspired Science, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Yuchun Tang
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Research Center for Sectional and Imaging Anatomy, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Mental Disorder, Shandong Key Laboratory of Digital Human and Clinical Anatomy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
- Institute of Brain and Brain-Inspired Science, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
- Advanced Medical Research Institute, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Di Benedetto MG, Landi P, Mencacci C, Cattaneo A. Depression in Women: Potential Biological and Sociocultural Factors Driving the Sex Effect. Neuropsychobiology 2024; 83:2-16. [PMID: 38272005 PMCID: PMC10871691 DOI: 10.1159/000531588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
Important sex-related differences have been observed in the onset, prevalence, and clinical phenotype of depression, based on several epidemiological studies. Social, behavioural, and educational factors have a great role in underlying this bias; however, also several biological factors are extensively involved. Indeed, sexually dimorphic biological systems might represent the underlying ground for these disparities, including cerebral structures and neural correlates, reproductive hormones, stress response pathways, the immune system and inflammatory reaction, metabolism, and fat distribution. Furthermore, in this perspective, it is also important to consider and focus the attention on specific ages and life stages of individuals: indeed, women experience during their life specific periods of reproductive transitional phases, which are not found in men, that represent windows of particular psychological vulnerability. In addition to these, other biologically related risk factors, including the occurrence of sleep disturbances and the exposure to childhood trauma, which are found to differentially affect men and women, are also putative underlying mechanisms of the clinical bias of depression. Overall, by taking into account major differences which characterize men and women it might be possible to improve the diagnostic process, as well as treat more efficiently depressed individuals, based on a more personalized medicine and research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maria Grazia Di Benedetto
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy,
- Biological Psychiatry Unit, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy,
| | - Paola Landi
- Department of Neuroscience, ASST Fatebenefratelli Sacco, Milan, Italy
| | - Claudio Mencacci
- Department of Neuroscience, ASST Fatebenefratelli Sacco, Milan, Italy
| | - Annamaria Cattaneo
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
- Biological Psychiatry Unit, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Eckert MA, Vaden KI, Paracchini S. Auditory Cortex Asymmetry Associations with Individual Differences in Language and Cognition. Brain Sci 2023; 14:14. [PMID: 38248230 PMCID: PMC10813516 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci14010014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2023] [Revised: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
A longstanding cerebral lateralization hypothesis predicts that disrupted development of typical leftward structural asymmetry of auditory cortex explains why children have problems learning to read. Small sample sizes and small effects, potential sex-specific effects, and associations that are limited to specific dimensions of language are thought to have contributed inconsistent results. The large ABCD study dataset (baseline visit: N = 11,859) was used to test the hypothesis of significant associations between surface area asymmetry of auditory cortex and receptive vocabulary performance across boys and girls, as well as an oral word reading effect that was specific to boys. The results provide modest support (Cohen's d effect sizes ≤ 0.10) for the cerebral lateralization hypothesis.
Collapse
Grants
- U01 DA051039 NIDA NIH HHS
- U01 DA041120 NIDA NIH HHS
- R01 HD069374 NICHD NIH HHS
- U01 DA051018 NIDA NIH HHS
- U01 DA041093 NIDA NIH HHS
- U24 DA041123 NIDA NIH HHS
- U01 DA051038 NIDA NIH HHS
- U01 DA051037 NIDA NIH HHS
- U01 DA051016 NIDA NIH HHS
- U01 DA041106 NIDA NIH HHS
- U01 DA041117 NIDA NIH HHS
- U01 DA041148 NIDA NIH HHS
- U24 DA041147 NIDA NIH HHS
- C06 RR014516 NCRR NIH HHS
- U01 DA041134 NIDA NIH HHS
- U01 DA041022 NIDA NIH HHS
- U01 DA041156 NIDA NIH HHS
- U01 DA050987 NIDA NIH HHS
- U01 DA041025 NIDA NIH HHS
- U01 DA050989 NIDA NIH HHS
- U01 DA041089 NIDA NIH HHS
- U01 DA050988 NIDA NIH HHS
- U01 DA041028 NIDA NIH HHS
- U01 DA041048 NIDA NIH HHS
- U01 DA041174 NIDA NIH HHS
- U01DA041048, 273 U01DA050989, U01DA051016, U01DA041022, U01DA051018, U01DA051037, U01DA050987, 274 U01DA041174, U01DA041106, U01DA041117, U01DA041028, U01DA041134, U01DA050988, 275 U01DA051039, U01DA041156, U01DA041025, U01DA041120, U01DA051038, U01DA0411 NIH HHS
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mark A. Eckert
- Department of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA;
| | - Kenneth I. Vaden
- Department of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA;
| | - Silvia Paracchini
- School of Medicine, University of St. Andrews, North Haugh, St. Andrews KY16 9TF, UK;
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Serio B, Hettwer MD, Wiersch L, Bignardi G, Sacher J, Weis S, Eickhoff SB, Valk SL. Sex differences in intrinsic functional cortical organization reflect differences in network topology rather than cortical morphometry. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.11.23.568437. [PMID: 38045320 PMCID: PMC10690290 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.23.568437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
Brain size robustly differs between sexes. However, the consequences of this anatomical dimorphism on sex differences in intrinsic brain function remain unclear. We investigated the extent to which sex differences in intrinsic cortical functional organization may be explained by differences in cortical morphometry, namely brain size, microstructure, and the geodesic distances of connectivity profiles. For this, we computed a low dimensional representation of functional cortical organization, the sensory-association axis, and identified widespread sex differences. Contrary to our expectations, observed sex differences in functional organization were not fundamentally associated with differences in brain size, microstructural organization, or geodesic distances, despite these morphometric properties being per se associated with functional organization and differing between sexes. Instead, functional sex differences in the sensory-association axis were associated with differences in functional connectivity profiles and network topology. Collectively, our findings suggest that sex differences in functional cortical organization extend beyond sex differences in cortical morphometry. Teaser Investigating sex differences in functional cortical organization and their association to differences in cortical morphometry.
Collapse
|
5
|
Aganj I, Mora J, Frau-Pascual A, Fischl B. Exploratory Correlation of The Human Structural Connectome with Non-MRI Variables in Alzheimer's Disease. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.06.30.547308. [PMID: 37461543 PMCID: PMC10350016 DOI: 10.1101/2023.06.30.547308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/24/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Discovery of the associations between brain structural connectivity and clinical and demographic variables can help to better understand the vulnerability and resilience of the brain architecture to neurodegenerative diseases and to discover biomarkers. METHODS We used four diffusion-MRI databases, three related to Alzheimer's disease, to exploratorily correlate structural connections between 85 brain regions with non-MRI variables, while stringently correcting the significance values for multiple testing and ruling out spurious correlations via careful visual inspection. We repeated the analysis with brain connectivity augmented with multi-synaptic neural pathways. RESULTS We found 85 and 101 significant relationships with direct and augmented connectivity, respectively, which were generally stronger for the latter. Age was consistently linked to decreased connectivity, and healthier clinical scores were generally linked to increased connectivity. DISCUSSION Our findings help to elucidate which structural brain networks are affected in Alzheimer's disease and aging and highlight the importance of including indirect connections.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Iman Aganj
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Radiology Department, Massachusetts General Hospital, 149 13 St., Suite 2301, Boston, MA 02129, USA
- Radiology Department, Harvard Medical School, 25 Shattuck St., Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Jocelyn Mora
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Radiology Department, Massachusetts General Hospital, 149 13 St., Suite 2301, Boston, MA 02129, USA
| | - Aina Frau-Pascual
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Radiology Department, Massachusetts General Hospital, 149 13 St., Suite 2301, Boston, MA 02129, USA
- Radiology Department, Harvard Medical School, 25 Shattuck St., Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Bruce Fischl
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Radiology Department, Massachusetts General Hospital, 149 13 St., Suite 2301, Boston, MA 02129, USA
- Radiology Department, Harvard Medical School, 25 Shattuck St., Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
6
|
Aganj I, Mora J, Frau‐Pascual A, Fischl B. Exploratory correlation of the human structural connectome with non-MRI variables in Alzheimer's disease. ALZHEIMER'S & DEMENTIA (AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS) 2023; 15:e12511. [PMID: 38111597 PMCID: PMC10725839 DOI: 10.1002/dad2.12511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Revised: 11/08/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/20/2023]
Abstract
Introduction Discovery of the associations between brain structural connectivity and clinical and demographic variables can help to better understand the vulnerability and resilience of the brain architecture to neurodegenerative diseases and to discover biomarkers. Methods We used four diffusion-MRI databases, three related to Alzheimer's disease (AD), to exploratorily correlate structural connections between 85 brain regions with non-MRI variables, while stringently correcting the significance values for multiple testing and ruling out spurious correlations via careful visual inspection. We repeated the analysis with brain connectivity augmented with multi-synaptic neural pathways. Results We found 85 and 101 significant relationships with direct and augmented connectivity, respectively, which were generally stronger for the latter. Age was consistently linked to decreased connectivity, and healthier clinical scores were generally linked to increased connectivity. Discussion Our findings help to elucidate which structural brain networks are affected in AD and aging and highlight the importance of including indirect connections.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Iman Aganj
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical ImagingRadiology DepartmentMassachusetts General HospitalBostonMassachusettsUSA
- Radiology DepartmentHarvard Medical SchoolBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | - Jocelyn Mora
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical ImagingRadiology DepartmentMassachusetts General HospitalBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | - Aina Frau‐Pascual
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical ImagingRadiology DepartmentMassachusetts General HospitalBostonMassachusettsUSA
- Radiology DepartmentHarvard Medical SchoolBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | - Bruce Fischl
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical ImagingRadiology DepartmentMassachusetts General HospitalBostonMassachusettsUSA
- Radiology DepartmentHarvard Medical SchoolBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | | |
Collapse
|
7
|
Kheloui S, Jacmin-Park S, Larocque O, Kerr P, Rossi M, Cartier L, Juster RP. Sex/gender differences in cognitive abilities. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2023; 152:105333. [PMID: 37517542 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2022] [Revised: 07/09/2023] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023]
Abstract
Sex/gender differences in cognitive sciences are riddled by conflicting perspectives. At the center of debates are clinical, social, and political perspectives. Front and center, evolutionary and biological perspectives have often focused on 'nature' arguments, while feminist and constructivist views have often focused on 'nurture arguments regarding cognitive sex differences. In the current narrative review, we provide a comprehensive overview regarding the origins and historical advancement of these debates while providing a summary of the results in the field of sexually polymorphic cognition. In so doing, we attempt to highlight the importance of using transdisciplinary perspectives which help bridge disciplines together to provide a refined understanding the specific factors that drive sex differences a gender diversity in cognitive abilities. To summarize, biological sex (e.g., birth-assigned sex, sex hormones), socio-cultural gender (gender identity, gender roles), and sexual orientation each uniquely shape the cognitive abilities reviewed. To date, however, few studies integrate these sex and gender factors together to better understand individual differences in cognitive functioning. This has potential benefits if a broader understanding of sex and gender factors are systematically measured when researching and treating numerous conditions where cognition is altered.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Kheloui
- Department of Psychiatry and Addiction, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Department of Psychology, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Centre de recherche de l'Institut universitaire en santé mentale de Montréal, Canada; Center on Sex⁎Gender, Allostasis and Resilience, Canada
| | - Silke Jacmin-Park
- Department of Psychology, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Department of Psychology, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Centre de recherche de l'Institut universitaire en santé mentale de Montréal, Canada; Center on Sex⁎Gender, Allostasis and Resilience, Canada
| | - Ophélie Larocque
- Department of Psychology, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Department of Psychology, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Centre de recherche de l'Institut universitaire en santé mentale de Montréal, Canada; Center on Sex⁎Gender, Allostasis and Resilience, Canada
| | - Philippe Kerr
- Department of Psychiatry and Addiction, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Department of Psychology, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Centre de recherche de l'Institut universitaire en santé mentale de Montréal, Canada; Center on Sex⁎Gender, Allostasis and Resilience, Canada
| | - Mathias Rossi
- Department of Psychiatry and Addiction, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Department of Psychology, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Centre de recherche de l'Institut universitaire en santé mentale de Montréal, Canada; Center on Sex⁎Gender, Allostasis and Resilience, Canada
| | - Louis Cartier
- Department of Psychiatry and Addiction, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Department of Psychology, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Centre de recherche de l'Institut universitaire en santé mentale de Montréal, Canada; Center on Sex⁎Gender, Allostasis and Resilience, Canada
| | - Robert-Paul Juster
- Department of Psychiatry and Addiction, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Department of Psychology, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Centre de recherche de l'Institut universitaire en santé mentale de Montréal, Canada; Center on Sex⁎Gender, Allostasis and Resilience, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Stier C, Braun C, Focke NK. Adult lifespan trajectories of neuromagnetic signals and interrelations with cortical thickness. Neuroimage 2023; 278:120275. [PMID: 37451375 PMCID: PMC10443236 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2023.120275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2023] [Revised: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Oscillatory power and phase synchronization map neuronal dynamics and are commonly studied to differentiate the healthy and diseased brain. Yet, little is known about the course and spatial variability of these features from early adulthood into old age. Leveraging magnetoencephalography (MEG) resting-state data in a cross-sectional adult sample (n = 350), we probed lifespan differences (18-88 years) in connectivity and power and interaction effects with sex. Building upon recent attempts to link brain structure and function, we tested the spatial correspondence between age effects on cortical thickness and those on functional networks. We further probed a direct structure-function relationship at the level of the study sample. We found MEG frequency-specific patterns with age and divergence between sexes in low frequencies. Connectivity and power exhibited distinct linear trajectories or turning points at midlife that might reflect different physiological processes. In the delta and beta bands, these age effects corresponded to those on cortical thickness, pointing to co-variation between the modalities across the lifespan. Structure-function coupling was frequency-dependent and observed in unimodal or multimodal regions. Altogether, we provide a comprehensive overview of the topographic functional profile of adulthood that can form a basis for neurocognitive and clinical investigations. This study further sheds new light on how the brain's structural architecture relates to fast oscillatory activity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christina Stier
- Clinic of Neurology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany; Institute for Biomagnetism and Biosignalanalysis, University of Münster, Münster, Germany.
| | - Christoph Braun
- MEG-Center, Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany; CIMeC, Center for Mind/Brain Sciences, University of Trento, Rovereto, Italy
| | - Niels K Focke
- Clinic of Neurology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Suarez LM, Diaz-Del Cerro E, Felix J, Gonzalez-Sanchez M, Ceprian N, Guerra-Perez N, G Novelle M, Martinez de Toda I, De la Fuente M. Sex differences in neuroimmunoendocrine communication. Involvement on longevity. Mech Ageing Dev 2023; 211:111798. [PMID: 36907251 DOI: 10.1016/j.mad.2023.111798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2022] [Revised: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 03/13/2023]
Abstract
Endocrine, nervous, and immune systems work coordinately to maintain the global homeostasis of the organism. They show sex differences in their functions that, in turn, contribute to sex differences beyond reproductive function. Females display a better control of the energetic metabolism and improved neuroprotection and have more antioxidant defenses and a better inflammatory status than males, which is associated with a more robust immune response than that of males. These differences are present from the early stages of life, being more relevant in adulthood and influencing the aging trajectory in each sex and may contribute to the different life lifespan between sexes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Luz M Suarez
- Department of Genetics, Physiology, and Microbiology (Unit of Animal Physiology), Faculty of Biology, Complutense University, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Estefania Diaz-Del Cerro
- Department of Genetics, Physiology, and Microbiology (Unit of Animal Physiology), Faculty of Biology, Complutense University, Madrid, Spain; Institute of Investigation Hospital 12 Octubre (imas12), Madrid, Spain
| | - Judith Felix
- Department of Genetics, Physiology, and Microbiology (Unit of Animal Physiology), Faculty of Biology, Complutense University, Madrid, Spain; Institute of Investigation Hospital 12 Octubre (imas12), Madrid, Spain
| | - Monica Gonzalez-Sanchez
- Department of Genetics, Physiology, and Microbiology (Unit of Animal Physiology), Faculty of Biology, Complutense University, Madrid, Spain; Institute of Investigation Hospital 12 Octubre (imas12), Madrid, Spain
| | - Noemi Ceprian
- Department of Genetics, Physiology, and Microbiology (Unit of Animal Physiology), Faculty of Biology, Complutense University, Madrid, Spain; Institute of Investigation Hospital 12 Octubre (imas12), Madrid, Spain
| | - Natalia Guerra-Perez
- Department of Genetics, Physiology, and Microbiology (Unit of Animal Physiology), Faculty of Biology, Complutense University, Madrid, Spain; Institute of Investigation Hospital 12 Octubre (imas12), Madrid, Spain
| | - Marta G Novelle
- Department of Genetics, Physiology, and Microbiology (Unit of Animal Physiology), Faculty of Biology, Complutense University, Madrid, Spain
| | - Irene Martinez de Toda
- Department of Genetics, Physiology, and Microbiology (Unit of Animal Physiology), Faculty of Biology, Complutense University, Madrid, Spain; Institute of Investigation Hospital 12 Octubre (imas12), Madrid, Spain
| | - Monica De la Fuente
- Department of Genetics, Physiology, and Microbiology (Unit of Animal Physiology), Faculty of Biology, Complutense University, Madrid, Spain; Institute of Investigation Hospital 12 Octubre (imas12), Madrid, Spain.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Cook KM, De Asis-Cruz J, Lopez C, Quistorff J, Kapse K, Andersen N, Vezina G, Limperopoulos C. Robust sex differences in functional brain connectivity are present in utero. Cereb Cortex 2023; 33:2441-2454. [PMID: 35641152 PMCID: PMC10016060 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhac218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2021] [Revised: 05/09/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Sex-based differences in brain structure and function are observable throughout development and are thought to contribute to differences in behavior, cognition, and the presentation of neurodevelopmental disorders. Using multiple support vector machine (SVM) models as a data-driven approach to assess sex differences, we sought to identify regions exhibiting sex-dependent differences in functional connectivity and determine whether they were robust and sufficiently reliable to classify sex even prior to birth. To accomplish this, we used a sample of 110 human fetal resting state fMRI scans from 95 fetuses, performed between 19 and 40 gestational weeks. Functional brain connectivity patterns classified fetal sex with 73% accuracy. Across SVM models, we identified features (functional connections) that reliably differentiated fetal sex. Highly consistent predictors included connections in the somatomotor and frontal areas alongside the hippocampus, cerebellum, and basal ganglia. Moreover, high consistency features also implicated a greater magnitude of cross-region connections in females, while male weighted features were predominately within anatomically bounded regions. Our findings indicate that these differences, which have been observed later in childhood, are present and reliably detectable even before birth. These results show that sex differences arise before birth in a manner that is consistent and reliable enough to be highly identifiable.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kevin M Cook
- Developing Brain Institute, Children’s National, 111 Michigan Ave NW, Washington DC 20010, USA
| | - Josepheen De Asis-Cruz
- Developing Brain Institute, Children’s National, 111 Michigan Ave NW, Washington DC 20010, USA
| | - Catherine Lopez
- Developing Brain Institute, Children’s National, 111 Michigan Ave NW, Washington DC 20010, USA
| | - Jessica Quistorff
- Developing Brain Institute, Children’s National, 111 Michigan Ave NW, Washington DC 20010, USA
| | - Kushal Kapse
- Developing Brain Institute, Children’s National, 111 Michigan Ave NW, Washington DC 20010, USA
| | - Nicole Andersen
- Developing Brain Institute, Children’s National, 111 Michigan Ave NW, Washington DC 20010, USA
| | - Gilbert Vezina
- Division of Diagnostic Imaging and Radiology, Children’s National, 111 Michigan Ave NW, Washington DC 20010, USA
| | - Catherine Limperopoulos
- Developing Brain Institute, Children’s National, 111 Michigan Ave NW, Washington DC 20010, USA
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Raaf N, Westerhausen R. Hand preference and the corpus callosum: Is there really no association? NEUROIMAGE: REPORTS 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ynirp.2023.100160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/08/2023]
|
12
|
Sambuco N, Bradley MM, Lang PJ. Hippocampal and amygdala volumes vary with transdiagnostic psychopathological dimensions of distress, anxious arousal, and trauma. Biol Psychol 2023; 177:108501. [PMID: 36646300 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2023.108501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2022] [Revised: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Reduced hippocampal and/or amygdala volumes have been reported in patients with a variety of different anxiety diagnoses, suggesting that structural alterations may vary transdiagnostically across the internalizing disorders. The current study measured hippocampal and amygdala volumes in anxiety and mood disorder patients assessing differences that vary dimensionally with transdiagnostic factors of distress, anxious arousal, and trauma, based on a principal components analysis of questionnaires relating to symptomology. High-resolution structural images were collected in a sample of 165 patients, and volumes extracted from the hippocampal formation (including CA1, CA2/3, CA4/DG, subiculum, and molecular layer) and the amygdala. Transdiagnostically, increasing distress was associated with reduced hippocampal CA1 volume, increasing anxious arousal was associated with reduced hippocampal CA4/DG volume, and increasing trauma severity was associated with reduced amygdala volume in women. Taken together, the data indicate that subcortical brain volumes decrease as the severity of transdiagnostic psychopathological symptomology increases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nicola Sambuco
- Center for the Study of Emotion and Attention, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
| | - Margaret M Bradley
- Center for the Study of Emotion and Attention, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Peter J Lang
- Center for the Study of Emotion and Attention, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Abstract
There is now a significant body of literature concerning sex/gender differences in the human brain. This chapter will critically review and synthesise key findings from several studies that have investigated sex/gender differences in structural and functional lateralisation and connectivity. We argue that while small, relative sex/gender differences reliably exist in lateralisation and connectivity, there is considerable overlap between the sexes. Some inconsistencies exist, however, and this is likely due to considerable variability in the methodologies, tasks, measures, and sample compositions between studies. Moreover, research to date is limited in its consideration of sex/gender-related factors, such as sex hormones and gender roles, that can explain inter-and inter-individual differences in brain and behaviour better than sex/gender alone. We conclude that conceptualising the brain as 'sexually dimorphic' is incorrect, and the terms 'male brain' and 'female brain' should be avoided in the neuroscientific literature. However, this does not necessarily mean that sex/gender differences in the brain are trivial. Future research involving sex/gender should adopt a biopsychosocial approach whenever possible, to ensure that non-binary psychological, biological, and environmental/social factors related to sex/gender, and their interactions, are routinely accounted for.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Hodgetts
- School of Psychology, University of Sunderland, Sunderland, UK
| | | |
Collapse
|
14
|
Helman TJ, Headrick JP, Stapelberg NJC, Braidy N. The sex-dependent response to psychosocial stress and ischaemic heart disease. Front Cardiovasc Med 2023; 10:1072042. [PMID: 37153459 PMCID: PMC10160413 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2023.1072042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Stress is an important risk factor for modern chronic diseases, with distinct influences in males and females. The sex specificity of the mammalian stress response contributes to the sex-dependent development and impacts of coronary artery disease (CAD). Compared to men, women appear to have greater susceptibility to chronic forms of psychosocial stress, extending beyond an increased incidence of mood disorders to include a 2- to 4-fold higher risk of stress-dependent myocardial infarction in women, and up to 10-fold higher risk of Takotsubo syndrome-a stress-dependent coronary-myocardial disorder most prevalent in post-menopausal women. Sex differences arise at all levels of the stress response: from initial perception of stress to behavioural, cognitive, and affective responses and longer-term disease outcomes. These fundamental differences involve interactions between chromosomal and gonadal determinants, (mal)adaptive epigenetic modulation across the lifespan (particularly in early life), and the extrinsic influences of socio-cultural, economic, and environmental factors. Pre-clinical investigations of biological mechanisms support distinct early life programming and a heightened corticolimbic-noradrenaline-neuroinflammatory reactivity in females vs. males, among implicated determinants of the chronic stress response. Unravelling the intrinsic molecular, cellular and systems biological basis of these differences, and their interactions with external lifestyle/socio-cultural determinants, can guide preventative and therapeutic strategies to better target coronary heart disease in a tailored sex-specific manner.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tessa J. Helman
- Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing, School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, NSW, Sydney, Australia
- Correspondence: Tessa J. Helman
| | - John P. Headrick
- Schoolof Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, Griffith University, Southport, QLD, Australia
| | | | - Nady Braidy
- Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing, School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, NSW, Sydney, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Reynier KA, Giudice JS, Chernyavskiy P, Forman JL, Panzer MB. Quantifying the Effect of Sex and Neuroanatomical Biomechanical Features on Brain Deformation Response in Finite Element Brain Models. Ann Biomed Eng 2022; 50:1510-1519. [PMID: 36121528 DOI: 10.1007/s10439-022-03084-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2022] [Accepted: 09/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Recent automotive epidemiology studies have concluded that females have significantly higher odds of sustaining a moderate brain injury or concussion than males in a frontal crash after controlling for multiple crash and occupant variables. Differences in neuroanatomical features, such as intracranial volume (ICV), have been shown between male and female subjects, but how these sex-specific neuroanatomical differences affect brain deformation is unknown. This study used subject-specific finite element brain models, generated via registration-based morphing using both male and female magnetic resonance imaging scans, to investigate sex differences of a variety of neuroanatomical features and their effect on brain deformation; additionally, this study aimed to determine the relative importance of these neuroanatomical features and sex on brain deformation metrics for a single automotive loading environment. Based on the Bayesian linear mixed models, sex had a significant effect on ICV, white matter volume and gray matter volume, as well as a section of cortical gray matter regions' thicknesses and volumes; however, after these neuroanatomical features were accounted for in the statistical model, sex was not a significant factor in predicting brain deformation. ICV had the highest relative effect on the brain deformation metrics assessed. Therefore, ICV should be considered when investigating both brain injury biomechanics and injury risk.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kristen A Reynier
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Center for Applied Biomechanics, University of Virginia, 4040 Lewis and Clark Drive, Charlottesville, VA, 22911, USA
| | - J Sebastian Giudice
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Center for Applied Biomechanics, University of Virginia, 4040 Lewis and Clark Drive, Charlottesville, VA, 22911, USA
| | - Pavel Chernyavskiy
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Virginia, P.O. Box 800717, Charlottesville, VA, 22908, USA
| | - Jason L Forman
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Center for Applied Biomechanics, University of Virginia, 4040 Lewis and Clark Drive, Charlottesville, VA, 22911, USA
| | - Matthew B Panzer
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Center for Applied Biomechanics, University of Virginia, 4040 Lewis and Clark Drive, Charlottesville, VA, 22911, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Sanchis-Segura C, Aguirre N, Cruz-Gómez ÁJ, Félix S, Forn C. Beyond "sex prediction": Estimating and interpreting multivariate sex differences and similarities in the brain. Neuroimage 2022; 257:119343. [PMID: 35654377 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2022.119343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2022] [Revised: 05/26/2022] [Accepted: 05/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous studies have shown that machine-learning (ML) algorithms can "predict" sex based on brain anatomical/ functional features. The high classification accuracy achieved by ML algorithms is often interpreted as revealing large differences between the brains of males and females and as confirming the existence of "male/female brains". However, classification and estimation are different concepts, and using classification metrics as surrogate estimates of between-group differences may result in major statistical and interpretative distortions. The present study avoids these distortions and provides a novel and detailed assessment of multivariate sex differences in gray matter volume (GMVOL) that does not rely on classification metrics. Moreover, appropriate regression methods were used to identify the brain areas that contribute the most to these multivariate differences, and clustering techniques and analyses of similarities (ANOSIM) were employed to empirically assess whether they assemble into two sex-typical profiles. Results revealed that multivariate sex differences in GMVOL: (1) are "large" if not adjusted for total intracranial volume (TIV) variation, but "small" when controlling for this variable; (2) differ in size between individuals and also depends on the ML algorithm used for their calculation (3) do not stem from two sex-typical profiles, and so describing them in terms of "male/female brains" is misleading.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Carla Sanchis-Segura
- Departament de Psicologia Bàsica, Clínica i Psicobiologia, Universitat Jaume I, Avda. Sos Baynat, SN., Castelló 12071, Spain.
| | - Naiara Aguirre
- Departament de Psicologia Bàsica, Clínica i Psicobiologia, Universitat Jaume I, Avda. Sos Baynat, SN., Castelló 12071, Spain
| | - Álvaro Javier Cruz-Gómez
- Departament de Psicologia Bàsica, Clínica i Psicobiologia, Universitat Jaume I, Avda. Sos Baynat, SN., Castelló 12071, Spain
| | - Sonia Félix
- Departament de Psicologia Bàsica, Clínica i Psicobiologia, Universitat Jaume I, Avda. Sos Baynat, SN., Castelló 12071, Spain
| | - Cristina Forn
- Departament de Psicologia Bàsica, Clínica i Psicobiologia, Universitat Jaume I, Avda. Sos Baynat, SN., Castelló 12071, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Lewis JD, Acosta H, Tuulari JJ, Fonov VS, Collins DL, Scheinin NM, Lehtola SJ, Rosberg A, Lidauer K, Ukharova E, Saunavaara J, Parkkola R, Lähdesmäki T, Karlsson L, Karlsson H. Allometry in the corpus callosum in neonates: Sexual dimorphism. Hum Brain Mapp 2022; 43:4609-4619. [PMID: 35722945 PMCID: PMC9491283 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.25977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2022] [Revised: 05/23/2022] [Accepted: 05/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The corpus callosum (CC) is the largest fiber tract in the human brain, allowing interhemispheric communication by connecting homologous areas of the two cerebral hemispheres. In adults, CC size shows a robust allometric relationship with brain size, with larger brains having larger callosa, but smaller brains having larger callosa relative to brain size. Such an allometric relationship has been shown in both males and females, with no significant difference between the sexes. But there is some evidence that there are alterations in these allometric relationships during development. However, it is currently not known whether there is sexual dimorphism in these allometric relationships from birth, or if it only develops later. We study this in neonate data. Our results indicate that there are already sex differences in these allometric relationships in neonates: male neonates show the adult‐like allometric relationship between CC size and brain size; however female neonates show a significantly more positive allometry between CC size and brain size than either male neonates or female adults. The underlying cause of this sexual dimorphism is unclear; but the existence of this sexual dimorphism in neonates suggests that sex‐differences in lateralization have prenatal origins.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- John D Lewis
- Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital, McGill University, Quebec, Canada
| | - Henriette Acosta
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Philipps University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany.,FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Turku Brain and Mind Center, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Jetro J Tuulari
- FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Turku Brain and Mind Center, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.,Turku Collegium for Science and Medicine and Technology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.,Department of Future Technologies, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.,Department of Psychiatry, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland
| | - Vladimir S Fonov
- Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital, McGill University, Quebec, Canada
| | - D Louis Collins
- Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital, McGill University, Quebec, Canada
| | - Noora M Scheinin
- FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Turku Brain and Mind Center, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.,Department of Psychiatry, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland
| | - Satu J Lehtola
- FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Turku Brain and Mind Center, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Aylin Rosberg
- FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Turku Brain and Mind Center, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.,Department of Radiology, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland
| | - Kristian Lidauer
- FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Turku Brain and Mind Center, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Elena Ukharova
- FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Turku Brain and Mind Center, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.,Department of Neuroscience and Biomedical Engineering, Aalto University School of Science, Espoo, Finland
| | - Jani Saunavaara
- FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Turku Brain and Mind Center, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.,Department of Medical Physics, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland
| | - Riitta Parkkola
- FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Turku Brain and Mind Center, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.,Department of Radiology, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland
| | - Tuire Lähdesmäki
- FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Turku Brain and Mind Center, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.,Department of Pediatric Neurology, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland
| | - Linnea Karlsson
- FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Turku Brain and Mind Center, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.,Department of Psychiatry, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland.,Centre for Population Health Research, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland.,Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Turku University Hospital and University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Hasse Karlsson
- FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Turku Brain and Mind Center, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.,Department of Psychiatry, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Gómez-Ramírez J, Fernández-Blázquez MA, González-Rosa JJ. Prediction of Chronological Age in Healthy Elderly Subjects with Machine Learning from MRI Brain Segmentation and Cortical Parcellation. Brain Sci 2022; 12:brainsci12050579. [PMID: 35624966 PMCID: PMC9139275 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci12050579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2022] [Revised: 04/19/2022] [Accepted: 04/23/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Normal aging is associated with changes in volumetric indices of brain atrophy. A quantitative understanding of age-related brain changes can shed light on successful aging. To investigate the effect of age on global and regional brain volumes and cortical thickness, 3514 magnetic resonance imaging scans were analyzed using automated brain segmentation and parcellation methods in elderly healthy individuals (69–88 years of age). The machine learning algorithm extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) achieved a mean absolute error of 2 years in predicting the age of new subjects. Feature importance analysis showed that the brain-to-intracranial-volume ratio is the most important feature in predicting age, followed by the hippocampi volumes. The cortical thickness in temporal and parietal lobes showed a superior predictive value than frontal and occipital lobes. Insights from this approach that integrate model prediction and interpretation may help to shorten the current explanatory gap between chronological age and biological brain age.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jaime Gómez-Ramírez
- Institute of Biomedical Research Cadiz (INiBICA), Universidad de Cádiz, 11003 Cádiz, Spain;
- Correspondence:
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
19
|
Sambuco N. Sex differences in the aging brain? A voxel-based morphometry analysis of the hippocampus and the amygdala. Neuroreport 2021; 32:1320-1324. [PMID: 34554939 DOI: 10.1097/wnr.0000000000001728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Volumetric reductions in the hippocampus and the amygdala are considered a hallmark for many psychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders. Because brain atrophy is often observed in disorders that have a higher prevalence in females than males, it has been proposed that sex differences in the aging brain represent a vulnerability factor for developing more severe psychiatric conditions. METHODS Sexual dimorphism was assessed in the amygdala volume and hippocampal volume in a large sample (N = 554) of healthy individuals ranging from 20 to 79 years old, using structural brain data available from a public dataset. RESULTS In both the hippocampus and the amygdala, a quadratic association was found between age and brain volume. Using uncorrected data for head size [total intracranial volume (TIV)], males clearly demonstrated larger amygdala and hippocampal volume across all ages, and an interaction between age and sex in the hippocampus supported the hypothesis of accelerated atrophy in the hippocampus in later life (60-79 years old). However, when volumetric data adjusted for TIV were used, sex differences were not observed in the hippocampus nor the amygdala. CONCLUSION These findings support the extensive series of studies suggesting that sex differences in brain volume are likely related to the confounding effect of head size. While continued effort is allocated to identify sex-related biomarkers, increasing evidence suggests that sexual dimorphism in the hippocampus or the amygdala does not appear to be the primary candidates for precision medicine to identify sex-related biomarkers that index potential vulnerabilities.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nicola Sambuco
- Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Caballero HS, McFall GP, Zheng Y, Dixon RA. Data-driven approaches to executive function performance and structure in aging: Integrating person-centered analyses and machine learning risk prediction. Neuropsychology 2021; 35:889-903. [PMID: 34570543 PMCID: PMC9907731 DOI: 10.1037/neu0000775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective: Executive function (EF) performance and structure in nondemented aging are frequently examined with variable-centered approaches. Person-centered analytics can contribute unique information about classes of persons by simultaneously considering EF performance and structure. The risk predictors of these classes can then be determined by machine learning technology. Using data from the Victoria Longitudinal Study we examined two goals: (a) detect different underlying subgroups (or classes) of EF performance and structure and (b) test multiple risk predictors for best discrimination of these detected subgroups. Method: We used a classification sample (n = 778; Mage = 71.42) for the first goal and a prediction subsample (n = 570; Mage = 70.10) for the second goal. Eight neuropsychological measures represented three EF dimensions (inhibition, updating, shifting). Fifteen predictors represented five domains (genetic, functional, lifestyle, mobility, demographic). Results: First, we observed two distinct classes: (a) lower EF performance and unidimensional structure (Class 1) and (b) higher EF performance and multidimensional structure (Class 2). Second, Class 2 was predicted by younger age, more novel cognitive activity, more education, lower body mass index, lower pulse pressure, female sex, faster balance, and more physical activity. Conclusions: Data-driven modeling approaches tested the possibility of an EF aging class that displayed both preserved EF performance levels and sustained multidimensional structure. The two observed classes differed in both performance level (lower, higher) and structure (unidimensional, multidimensional). Machine learning prediction analyses showed that the higher performing and multidimensional class was associated with multiple brain health-related protective factors. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - G. Peggy McFall
- Neurosicence and Mental Health Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada,Department of Psychology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
| | - Yao Zheng
- Department of Psychology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
| | - Roger A. Dixon
- Neurosicence and Mental Health Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada,Department of Psychology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Soysal H, Acer N, Özdemir M, Eraslan Ö. A Volumetric Study of the Corpus Callosum in the Turkish Population. Skull Base Surg 2021; 83:443-450. [DOI: 10.1055/s-0041-1731033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2020] [Accepted: 05/07/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Objective The aim of this study is to measure the average corpus callosum (CC) volume of healthy Turkish humans and to analyze the effects of gender and age on volumes, including the genu, truncus, and splenium parts of the CC.
Patients and Methods Magnetic resonance imaging brain scans were obtained from 301 healthy male and female subjects, aged 11 to 84 years. The median age was 42 years (min–max: 11–82) in females and 49 years (min–max: 12–84) in males. Corpus callosum and its parts were calculated by using MRICloud. CC volumes of each subject were compared with those of the age and gender groups.
Results All volumes of the CC were significantly higher in males than females. All left volumes except BCC were significantly higher than the right volumes in both males and females. The oldest two age groups (50–69 and 70–84 years) were found to have higher bilateral CC volumes, and bilateral BCC volumes were also higher than in the other two age groups (11–29 and 30–49 years).
Conclusion The results suggest that compared with females/males, females have a faster decline in the volume of all volumes of the CC. We think that quantitative structural magnetic resonance data of the brain is vital in understanding human brain function and development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Handan Soysal
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Dentistry, Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Niyazi Acer
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Arel University, İstanbul, Turkey
| | - Meltem Özdemir
- Department of Radiology, Dışkapı Yıldırım Beyazıt Health Application and Research Center, Medical Sciences University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Önder Eraslan
- Department of Radiology, Dışkapı Yıldırım Beyazıt Health Application and Research Center, Medical Sciences University, Ankara, Turkey
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Age- and gender-related differences in brain tissue microstructure revealed by multi-component T 2 relaxometry. Neurobiol Aging 2021; 106:68-79. [PMID: 34252873 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2021.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2020] [Revised: 05/30/2021] [Accepted: 06/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
In spite of extensive work, inconsistent findings and lack of specificity in most neuroimaging techniques used to examine age- and gender-related patterns in brain tissue microstructure indicate the need for additional research. Here, we performed the largest Multi-component T2 relaxometry cross-sectional study to date in healthy adults (N = 145, 18-60 years). Five quantitative microstructure parameters derived from various segments of the estimated T2 spectra were evaluated, allowing a more specific interpretation of results in terms of tissue microstructure. We found similar age-related myelin water fraction (MWF) patterns in men and women but we also observed differential male related results including increased MWF content in a few white matter tracts, a faster decline with age of the intra- and extra-cellular water fraction and its T2 relaxation time (i.e. steeper age related negative slopes) and a faster increase in the free and quasi-free water fraction, spanning the whole grey matter. Such results point to a sexual dimorphism in brain tissue microstructure and suggest a lesser vulnerability to age-related changes in women.
Collapse
|
23
|
Dump the "dimorphism": Comprehensive synthesis of human brain studies reveals few male-female differences beyond size. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2021; 125:667-697. [PMID: 33621637 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.02.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 139] [Impact Index Per Article: 46.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2020] [Revised: 01/01/2021] [Accepted: 02/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
With the explosion of neuroimaging, differences between male and female brains have been exhaustively analyzed. Here we synthesize three decades of human MRI and postmortem data, emphasizing meta-analyses and other large studies, which collectively reveal few reliable sex/gender differences and a history of unreplicated claims. Males' brains are larger than females' from birth, stabilizing around 11 % in adults. This size difference accounts for other reproducible findings: higher white/gray matter ratio, intra- versus interhemispheric connectivity, and regional cortical and subcortical volumes in males. But when structural and lateralization differences are present independent of size, sex/gender explains only about 1% of total variance. Connectome differences and multivariate sex/gender prediction are largely based on brain size, and perform poorly across diverse populations. Task-based fMRI has especially failed to find reproducible activation differences between men and women in verbal, spatial or emotion processing due to high rates of false discovery. Overall, male/female brain differences appear trivial and population-specific. The human brain is not "sexually dimorphic."
Collapse
|
24
|
Gaillard A, Fehring DJ, Rossell SL. Sex differences in executive control: A systematic review of functional neuroimaging studies. Eur J Neurosci 2021; 53:2592-2611. [PMID: 33423339 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.15107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2020] [Revised: 12/22/2020] [Accepted: 01/01/2021] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
The number of studies investigating sex differences in executive functions, particularly those using human functional neuroimaging techniques, has risen dramatically in the past decade. However, the influences of sex on executive function are still underexplored and poorly characterized. To address this, we conducted a systematic literature review of functional neuroimaging studies investigating sex differences in three prominent executive control domains of cognitive set-shifting, performance monitoring, and response inhibition. PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus were systematically searched. Following the application of exclusion criteria, 21 studies were included, with a total of 677 females and 686 males. Ten of these studies were fMRI and PET, eight were EEG, and three were NIRS. At present, there is evidence for sex differences in the neural networks underlying all tasks of executive control included in this review suggesting males and females engage different strategies depending on task demands. There was one task exception, the 2-Back task, which showed no sex differences. Due to methodological variability and the involvement of multiple neural networks, a simple overarching statement with regard to gender differences during executive control cannot be provided. As such, we discuss limitations within the current literature and methodological considerations that should be employed in future research. Importantly, sex differences in neural mechanisms are present in the majority of tasks assessed, and thus should not be ignored in future research. PROSPERO registration information: CRD42019124772.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Gaillard
- Centre for Mental Health, Faculty of Health, Arts and Design, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, VIC., Australia
| | - Daniel J Fehring
- Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Department of Physiology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC., Australia.,ARC Centre of Excellence in Integrative Brain Function, Monash University, Clayton, VIC., Australia
| | - Susan L Rossell
- Centre for Mental Health, Faculty of Health, Arts and Design, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, VIC., Australia.,Psychiatry, St Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, VIC., Australia
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Sele S, Liem F, Mérillat S, Jäncke L. Decline Variability of Cortical and Subcortical Regions in Aging: A Longitudinal Study. Front Hum Neurosci 2020; 14:363. [PMID: 33100991 PMCID: PMC7500514 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2020.00363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2020] [Accepted: 08/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Describing the trajectories of age-related change for different brain structures has been of interest in many recent studies. However, our knowledge regarding these trajectories and their associations is still limited due to small sample sizes and low numbers of repeated measures. For the present study, we used a large longitudinal dataset (four measurements over 4 years) comprising anatomical data from a sample of healthy older adults (N = 231 at baseline). This dataset enables us to gain new insights about volumetric cortical and subcortical changes and their associations in the context of healthy aging. Brain structure volumes were derived from T1-weighted MRI scans using FreeSurfer segmentation tools. Brain structure trajectories were fitted using mixed models and latent growth curve models to gain information about the mean extent and variability of decline trajectories for different brain structures as well as the associations between individual trajectories. On the group level, our analyses indicate similar linear changes for frontal and parietal brain regions, while medial temporal regions showed an accelerated decline with advancing age. Regarding subcortical regions, some structures showed strong declines (e.g., hippocampus), others showed little decline (e.g., pallidum). Our data provide little evidence for sex differences regarding the aforementioned trajectories. Between-person variability of the person-specific slopes (random slopes) was largest in subcortical and medial temporal brain structures. When looking at the associations between the random slopes from each brain structure, we found that the decline is largely homogenous across the majority of cortical brain structures. In subcortical and medial temporal brain structures, however, more heterogeneity of the decline was observed, meaning that the extent of the decline in one structure is less predictive of the decline in another structure. Taken together, our study contributes to enhancing our understanding of structural brain aging by demonstrating (1) that average volumetric change differs across the brain and (2) that there are regional differences with respect to between-person variability in the slopes. Moreover, our data suggest (3) that random slopes are highly correlated across large parts of the cerebral cortex but (4) that some brain regions (i.e., medial temporal regions) deviate from this homogeneity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Silvano Sele
- Division Neuropsychology, Department of Psychology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,University Research Priority Program (URPP), "Dynamics of Healthy Aging", University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Franziskus Liem
- University Research Priority Program (URPP), "Dynamics of Healthy Aging", University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Susan Mérillat
- University Research Priority Program (URPP), "Dynamics of Healthy Aging", University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Lutz Jäncke
- Division Neuropsychology, Department of Psychology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,University Research Priority Program (URPP), "Dynamics of Healthy Aging", University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Forde NJ, Jeyachandra J, Joseph M, Jacobs GR, Dickie E, Satterthwaite TD, Shinohara RT, Ameis SH, Voineskos AN. Sex Differences in Variability of Brain Structure Across the Lifespan. Cereb Cortex 2020; 30:5420-5430. [PMID: 32483605 PMCID: PMC7566684 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhaa123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2020] [Revised: 03/16/2020] [Accepted: 04/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Several brain disorders exhibit sex differences in onset, presentation, and prevalence. Increased understanding of the neurobiology of sex-based differences in variability across the lifespan can provide insight into both disease vulnerability and resilience. In n = 3069 participants, from 8 to 95 years of age, we found widespread greater variability in males compared with females in cortical surface area and global and subcortical volumes for discrete brain regions. In contrast, variance in cortical thickness was similar for males and females. These findings were supported by multivariate analysis accounting for structural covariance, and present and stable across the lifespan. Additionally, we examined variability among brain regions by sex. We found significant age-by-sex interactions across neuroimaging metrics, whereby in very early life males had reduced among-region variability compared with females, while in very late life this was reversed. Overall, our findings of greater regional variability, but less among-region variability in males in early life may aid our understanding of sex-based risk for neurodevelopmental disorders. In contrast, our findings in late life may provide a potential sex-based risk mechanism for dementia.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Natalie J Forde
- Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, M5T 1R8, Toronto, Canada
| | - Jerrold Jeyachandra
- Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, M5T 1R8, Toronto, Canada
| | - Michael Joseph
- Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, M5T 1R8, Toronto, Canada
| | - Grace R Jacobs
- Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, M5T 1R8, Toronto, Canada
- Institute of Medical Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, M5S 1A8, Toronto, Canada
| | - Erin Dickie
- Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, M5T 1R8, Toronto, Canada
| | - Theodore D Satterthwaite
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Penn-CHOP Lifespan Brain Institute, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Russell T Shinohara
- Penn Statistics in Imaging and Visualization Center, Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Informatics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Center for Biomedical Image Computing and Analytics, Department of Radiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19103, USA
| | - Stephanie H Ameis
- Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, M5T 1R8, Toronto, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, M5T 1R8, Toronto, Canada
| | - Aristotle N Voineskos
- Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, M5T 1R8, Toronto, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, M5T 1R8, Toronto, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
DeCasien AR, Higham JP. Relative Cerebellum Size Is Not Sexually Dimorphic across Primates. BRAIN, BEHAVIOR AND EVOLUTION 2020; 95:93-101. [PMID: 32791505 DOI: 10.1159/000509070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2020] [Accepted: 06/02/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIMS Substantive sex differences in behavior and cognition are found in humans and other primates. However, potential sex differences in primate neuroanatomy remain largely unexplored. Here, we investigate sex differences in the relative size of the cerebellum, a region that has played a major role in primate brain evolution and that has been associated with cognitive abilities that may be subject to sexual selection in primates. METHODS We compiled individual volumetric and sex data from published data sources and used MCMC generalized linear mixed models to test for sex effects in relative cerebellar volume while controlling for phylogenetic relationships between species. Given that the cerebellum is a functionally heterogeneous structure involved in multiple complex cognitive processes that may be under selection in males or females within certain species, and that sexual selection pressures vary so greatly across primate species, we predicted there would be no sex difference in the relative size of the cerebellum across primates. RESULTS Our results support our prediction, suggesting there is no consistent sex difference in relative cerebellum size. CONCLUSION This work suggests that the potential for sex differences in relative cerebellum size has been subject to either developmental constraint or lack of consistent selection pressures, and highlights the need for more individual-level primate neuroanatomical data to facilitate intra- and inter-specific study of brain sexual dimorphism.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alex R DeCasien
- Department of Anthropology, New York University, New York, New York, USA, .,New York Consortium in Evolutionary Primatology, New York, New York, USA,
| | - James P Higham
- Department of Anthropology, New York University, New York, New York, USA.,New York Consortium in Evolutionary Primatology, New York, New York, USA
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Sanchis-Segura C, Ibañez-Gual MV, Aguirre N, Cruz-Gómez ÁJ, Forn C. Effects of different intracranial volume correction methods on univariate sex differences in grey matter volume and multivariate sex prediction. Sci Rep 2020; 10:12953. [PMID: 32737332 PMCID: PMC7395772 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-69361-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2020] [Accepted: 07/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Sex differences in 116 local gray matter volumes (GMVOL) were assessed in 444 males and 444 females without correcting for total intracranial volume (TIV) or after adjusting the data with the scaling, proportions, power-corrected proportions (PCP), and residuals methods. The results confirmed that only the residuals and PCP methods completely eliminate TIV-variation and result in sex-differences that are "small" (∣d∣ < 0.3). Moreover, as assessed using a totally independent sample, sex differences in PCP and residuals adjusted-data showed higher replicability ([Formula: see text] 93%) than scaling and proportions adjusted-data [Formula: see text] 68%) or raw data ([Formula: see text] 45%). The replicated effects were meta-analyzed together and confirmed that, when TIV-variation is adequately controlled, volumetric sex differences become "small" (∣d∣ < 0.3 in all cases). Finally, we assessed the utility of TIV-corrected/ TIV-uncorrected GMVOL features in predicting individuals' sex with 12 different machine learning classifiers. Sex could be reliably predicted (> 80%) when using raw local GMVOL, but also when using scaling or proportions adjusted-data or TIV as a single predictor. Conversely, after properly controlling TIV variation with the PCP and residuals' methods, prediction accuracy dropped to [Formula: see text] 60%. It is concluded that gross morphological differences account for most of the univariate and multivariate sex differences in GMVOL.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Carla Sanchis-Segura
- Departament de Psicologia Bàsica, Clínica i Psicobiologia, Universitat Jaume I, Avda. Sos Baynat, SN, 12071, Castelló, Spain.
| | | | - Naiara Aguirre
- Departament de Psicologia Bàsica, Clínica i Psicobiologia, Universitat Jaume I, Avda. Sos Baynat, SN, 12071, Castelló, Spain
| | - Álvaro Javier Cruz-Gómez
- Departament de Psicologia Bàsica, Clínica i Psicobiologia, Universitat Jaume I, Avda. Sos Baynat, SN, 12071, Castelló, Spain
| | - Cristina Forn
- Departament de Psicologia Bàsica, Clínica i Psicobiologia, Universitat Jaume I, Avda. Sos Baynat, SN, 12071, Castelló, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Yasuda K, Maki T, Kinoshita H, Kaji S, Toyokawa M, Nishigori R, Kinoshita Y, Ono Y, Kinoshita A, Takahashi R. Sex-specific differences in transcriptomic profiles and cellular characteristics of oligodendrocyte precursor cells. Stem Cell Res 2020; 46:101866. [PMID: 32563975 DOI: 10.1016/j.scr.2020.101866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2019] [Revised: 03/21/2020] [Accepted: 05/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The susceptibility to neurological and psychiatric disorders reveals sexual dimorphism in the structure and function of human brains. Recent evidence has also demonstrated the sex-related differences in cellular components of the brain, including neurons, microglia, astrocytes, and endothelial cells. Oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) regulate the neuronal system in various ways and play crucial roles in brain homeostasis beyond their well-known role as a reservoir for mature oligodendrocytes. Although recent studies have shown regional diversities and heterogeneities of OPCs, sex-related differences in OPCs are largely unknown. Here, we revealed transcriptomic differences in OPCs isolated from male and female neonatal rat brains. Furthermore, we demonstrated sex-dependent differences in OPCs regarding proliferation, migration, differentiation, tolerance against ischemic stress, energy metabolism, and the ability to regulate the blood-brain barrier integrity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ken Yasuda
- Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, 54 Shogoin-Kawahara-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8397, Japan
| | - Takakuni Maki
- Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, 54 Shogoin-Kawahara-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8397, Japan.
| | - Hisanori Kinoshita
- Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, 54 Shogoin-Kawahara-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8397, Japan
| | - Seiji Kaji
- Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, 54 Shogoin-Kawahara-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8397, Japan
| | - Masaru Toyokawa
- Human Health Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, 53 Shogoin-kawahara-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan
| | - Ryusei Nishigori
- Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, 54 Shogoin-Kawahara-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8397, Japan
| | - Yusuke Kinoshita
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, KAN Research Institute, Inc., Kobe, Hyogo 650-0047, Japan
| | - Yuichi Ono
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, KAN Research Institute, Inc., Kobe, Hyogo 650-0047, Japan
| | - Ayae Kinoshita
- Human Health Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, 53 Shogoin-kawahara-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan
| | - Ryosuke Takahashi
- Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, 54 Shogoin-Kawahara-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8397, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Structural brain differences between ultra-endurance athletes and sedentary persons. SPORTS MEDICINE AND HEALTH SCIENCE 2020; 2:89-94. [PMID: 35784180 PMCID: PMC9219350 DOI: 10.1016/j.smhs.2020.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2020] [Revised: 05/14/2020] [Accepted: 05/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Participation in ultra-endurance events has increased in recent years and requires extreme levels of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA). Moderate levels of MVPA have been associated with increased brain volume but the effects of extreme levels of MVPA on brain volume is unknown. As a result, we sought to compare the brains of those who engage in extremely high levels of MVPA with those who are sedentary using magnetic resonance imaging. We performed whole brain volumetric analyses and voxel-based morphometry on 12 ultra-endurance athletes (1078.75 ± 407.86 min of MVPA/week) and 9 sedentary persons (18.0 ± 56.9 min of MVPA/week). Whole-brain analyses revealed that those who participate in ultra-endurance training have increased grey (p< 0.0001), white (p = 0.031), and total matter volume (p < 0.0001), while regional analyses revealed that ultra-endurance athletes have smaller regional grey matter volume in the right primary sensory and motor cortex, inferior and middle frontal gyrus, and left thalamus. Future research is warranted to determine why ultra-endurance athletes have lower regional volumes in these areas despite having overall increased grey and white matter volumes.
Collapse
|
31
|
Zheng W, Cui B, Sun Z, Li X, Han X, Yang Y, Li K, Hu L, Wang Z. Application of Generalized Split Linearized Bregman Iteration algorithm for Alzheimer's disease prediction. Aging (Albany NY) 2020; 12:6206-6224. [PMID: 32248185 PMCID: PMC7185109 DOI: 10.18632/aging.103017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2019] [Accepted: 02/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
In this paper, we applied a novel method for the detection of Alzheimer's disease (AD) based on a structural magnetic resonance imaging (sMRI) dataset. Specifically, the method involved a new classification algorithm of machine learning, named Generalized Split Linearized Bregman Iteration (GSplit LBI). It combines logistic regression and structural sparsity regularizations. In the study, 57 AD patients and 47 normal controls (NCs) were enrolled. We first extracted the entire brain gray matter volume values of all subjects and then used GSplit LBI to build a predictive classification model with a 10-fold full cross-validation method. The model accuracy achieved 90.44%. To further verify which voxels in the dataset have greater impact on the prediction results, we ranked the weight parameters and obtained the top 6% of the model parameters. To verify the generalization of model prediction and the stability of feature selection, we performed a cross-test on the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) and a Chinese dataset and achieved good performances on different cohorts. Conclusively, based on the sMRI dataset, our algorithm not only had good performance in a local cohort with high accuracy but also had good generalization of model prediction and stability of feature selection in different cohorts.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Weimin Zheng
- Department of Radiology, Aerospace Center Hospital, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Bin Cui
- Department of Radiology, Aerospace Center Hospital, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Zeyu Sun
- Deepwise AI lab, Beijing 100080, China
| | - Xiuli Li
- Deepwise AI lab, Beijing 100080, China
| | - Xu Han
- Department of Radiology, Aerospace Center Hospital, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yu Yang
- Beijing Huading Jialiang Technology Co, Beijing 100000, China
| | - Kuncheng Li
- Department of Radiology, Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University, Beijing 100053, China
| | - Lingjing Hu
- Yanjing Medical College, Capital Medical University, Beijing 101300, China
| | - Zhiqun Wang
- Department of Radiology, Aerospace Center Hospital, Beijing 100049, China
| | | |
Collapse
|
32
|
Poletti S, Melloni E, Mazza E, Vai B, Benedetti F. Gender-specific differences in white matter microstructure in healthy adults exposed to mild stress. Stress 2020; 23:116-124. [PMID: 31452451 DOI: 10.1080/10253890.2019.1657823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Stress is a powerful moderator of brain plasticity and may affect several physiological functions such as the endocrine and the immune system. The impact of stress can be protective or detrimental according to several factors such as level of the stressor and age of occurrence. Also, the impact may differ in males and females. We aim to analyze the effect of mild levels of early and recent stress on white matter microstructure in healthy volunteers. MRI acquisition of diffusion tensor images with a 3.0 T scanner was performed on 130 healthy subjects (71 males and 59 females). Severity of early and recent stress was rated, respectively, on the Risky Families Questionnaire and on the Schedule of Recent Experiences; subjects were divided into low stress and mild stress groups. Mild early stress associated with lower fractional anisotropy (FA) in the cingulate gyrus compared to low early stress. Females reported reduced FA compared to males in the low-stress group in the internal capsule, posterior corona radiata, posterior thalamic radiation, superior longitudinal fasciculus, and sagittal stratum whereas no difference was observed in the mild stress group. An additive effect of early and recent stress was observed in posterior corona radiata, retrolenticular part of the internal capsule, and superior longitudinal fasciculus. The impact of early stress on WM microstructure in healthy subjects is different in males and females. While males seem to be more sensitive to early stress, an additive effect of early and recent stress manifests itself in females.Layman summaryMild levels of early stress associate with lower white matter integrity measured by fractional anisotropy.Females and males show differences in white matter integrity when exposed to low levels of early stress with females showing lower white matter integrity compared to males.No difference in white matter integrity was observed for males and females exposed to mild levels of stress.Mild stress in females is associated with higher white matter integrity.Males seem to be more sensitive to early stress while females are more affected when early stress is followed by stress in adult life.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sara Poletti
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Scientific Institute Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
- C.E.R.M.A.C. (Centro di Eccellenza Risonanza Magnetica ad Alto Campo), University Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Elisa Melloni
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Scientific Institute Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
- C.E.R.M.A.C. (Centro di Eccellenza Risonanza Magnetica ad Alto Campo), University Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Elena Mazza
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Scientific Institute Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
- C.E.R.M.A.C. (Centro di Eccellenza Risonanza Magnetica ad Alto Campo), University Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Benedetta Vai
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Scientific Institute Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
- C.E.R.M.A.C. (Centro di Eccellenza Risonanza Magnetica ad Alto Campo), University Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Francesco Benedetti
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Scientific Institute Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
- C.E.R.M.A.C. (Centro di Eccellenza Risonanza Magnetica ad Alto Campo), University Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Buchpiguel M, Rosa P, Squarzoni P, Duran FL, Tamashiro-Duran JH, Leite CC, Lotufo P, Scazufca M, Alves TC, Busatto GF. Differences in Total Brain Volume between Sexes in a Cognitively Unimpaired Elderly Population. Clinics (Sao Paulo) 2020; 75:e2245. [PMID: 33331399 PMCID: PMC7690962 DOI: 10.6061/clinics/2020/e2245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2020] [Accepted: 10/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Although a large number of studies have shown brain volumetric differences between men and women, only a few investigations have analyzed brain tissue volumes in representative samples of the general elderly population. We investigated differences in gray matter (GM) volumes, white matter (WM) volumes, and intracranial volumes (ICVs) between the sexes in individuals older than 66 years using structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). METHODS Using FreeSurfer version 5.3, we obtained the ICVs and GM and WM volumes from the MRI datasets of 84 men and 92 women. To correct for interindividual variations in ICV, GM and WM volumes were adjusted with a method using the residuals of a least-square-derived linear regression between raw volumes and ICVs. We then performed an analysis of covariance comparing men and women, including age and years of schooling as confounding factors. RESULTS Women had a lower socioeconomic status overall and fewer years of schooling than men. The comparison of unadjusted brain volumes showed larger GM and WM volumes in men. After the ICV correction, the adjusted volumes of GM and WM were larger in women. CONCLUSION After the ICV correction and taking into account differences in socioeconomic status and years of schooling, our results confirm previous findings of proportionally larger GM in women, as well as larger WM volumes. These results in an elderly population indicate that brain volumetric differences between sexes persist throughout the aging process. Additional studies combining MRI and other biomarkers to identify the hormonal and molecular bases influencing such differences are warranted.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marina Buchpiguel
- Departamento e Instituto de Psiquiatria, Faculdade de Medicina (FMUSP), Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, BR
- Laboratorio Neuro-Imagem em Psiquiatria (LIM/21), Departamento e Instituto de Psiquiatria, Faculdade de Medicina (FMUSP), Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, BR
- Escola de Ciencias Medicas, Santa Casa de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo SP, BR
- *Corresponding Author. E-mail:
| | - Pedro Rosa
- Departamento e Instituto de Psiquiatria, Faculdade de Medicina (FMUSP), Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, BR
| | - Paula Squarzoni
- Laboratorio Neuro-Imagem em Psiquiatria (LIM/21), Departamento e Instituto de Psiquiatria, Faculdade de Medicina (FMUSP), Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, BR
| | - Fabio L.S. Duran
- Laboratorio Neuro-Imagem em Psiquiatria (LIM/21), Departamento e Instituto de Psiquiatria, Faculdade de Medicina (FMUSP), Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, BR
| | - Jaqueline H. Tamashiro-Duran
- Laboratorio Neuro-Imagem em Psiquiatria (LIM/21), Departamento e Instituto de Psiquiatria, Faculdade de Medicina (FMUSP), Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, BR
| | - Claudia C. Leite
- Departamento de Radiologia, Faculdade de Medicina (FMUSP), Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, BR
| | - Paulo Lotufo
- Unidade de Pesquisa Clinica e Epidemiologia, Faculdade de Medicina (FMUSP), Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, BR
| | - Marcia Scazufca
- Departamento e Instituto de Psiquiatria, Faculdade de Medicina (FMUSP), Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, BR
| | - Tania C.T.F. Alves
- Departamento e Instituto de Psiquiatria, Faculdade de Medicina (FMUSP), Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, BR
| | - Geraldo F. Busatto
- Laboratorio Neuro-Imagem em Psiquiatria (LIM/21), Departamento e Instituto de Psiquiatria, Faculdade de Medicina (FMUSP), Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, BR
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Diekfuss JA, Grooms DR, Nissen KS, Schneider DK, Foss KDB, Thomas S, Bonnette S, Dudley JA, Yuan W, Reddington DL, Ellis JD, Leach J, Gordon M, Lindsey C, Rushford K, Shafer C, Myer GD. Alterations in knee sensorimotor brain functional connectivity contributes to ACL injury in male high-school football players: a prospective neuroimaging analysis. Braz J Phys Ther 2019; 24:415-423. [PMID: 31377125 DOI: 10.1016/j.bjpt.2019.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2018] [Revised: 07/02/2019] [Accepted: 07/03/2019] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study's purpose was to utilize a prospective dataset to examine differences in functional brain connectivity in male high school athletes who suffered an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury relative to their non-injured peers. METHODS Sixty-two male high school football players were evaluated using functional magnetic resonance imaging prior to their competitive season to evaluate resting-state functional brain connectivity. Three athletes later experienced an ACL injury and were matched to 12 teammates who did not go on to sustain an ACL injury (controls) based on school, age, height, weight, and year in school. Twenty-five knee-motor regions of interest (ROIs) were created to identify differences in connectivity between the two groups. Between-subject F and t tests were used to identify significant ROI differences using a false discovery rate correction for multiple comparisons. RESULTS There was significantly less connectivity between the left secondary somatosensory cortex and the left supplementary motor area (p = 0.025), right pre-motor cortex (p = 0.026), right supplementary motor area (p = 0.026), left primary somatosensory cortex (superior division; p = 0.026), left primary somatosensory cortex (inferior division; p = 0.026), and left primary motor cortex (p = 0.048) for the ACL-injured compared to the control subjects. No other ROI-to-ROI comparisons were significantly different between the groups (all p > 0.05). CONCLUSION Our preliminary data indicate a potential sensorimotor disruption for male football players who go on to experience an ACL injury. Future studies with larger sample sizes and complementary measures of neuromuscular control are needed to support these findings.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jed A Diekfuss
- The SPORT Center, Division of Sports Medicine, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
| | - Dustin R Grooms
- Ohio Musculoskeletal & Neurological Institute and Division of Athletic Training, School of Applied Health Sciences and Wellness, College of Health Sciences and Professions, Ohio University, Athens, OH, USA
| | - Katharine S Nissen
- The SPORT Center, Division of Sports Medicine, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Daniel K Schneider
- The SPORT Center, Division of Sports Medicine, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA; Riverside Methodist Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Kim D Barber Foss
- The SPORT Center, Division of Sports Medicine, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Staci Thomas
- The SPORT Center, Division of Sports Medicine, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Scott Bonnette
- The SPORT Center, Division of Sports Medicine, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Jonathan A Dudley
- Pediatric Neuroimaging Research Consortium, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Ohio, USA
| | - Weihong Yuan
- Pediatric Neuroimaging Research Consortium, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Ohio, USA; University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Danielle L Reddington
- The SPORT Center, Division of Sports Medicine, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Jonathan D Ellis
- The SPORT Center, Division of Sports Medicine, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA; University of Cincinnati Medical Center, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - James Leach
- University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA; Division of Radiology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH
| | | | | | | | | | - Gregory D Myer
- The SPORT Center, Division of Sports Medicine, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA; Departments of Pediatrics and Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA; The Micheli Center for Sports Injury Prevention, Waltham, MA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Sanchis-Segura C, Ibañez-Gual MV, Adrián-Ventura J, Aguirre N, Gómez-Cruz ÁJ, Avila C, Forn C. Sex differences in gray matter volume: how many and how large are they really? Biol Sex Differ 2019; 10:32. [PMID: 31262342 PMCID: PMC6604149 DOI: 10.1186/s13293-019-0245-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2018] [Accepted: 06/06/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Studies assessing volumetric sex differences have provided contradictory results. Total intracranial volume (TIV) is a major confounding factor when estimating local volumes of interest (VOIs). We investigated how the number, size, and direction of sex differences in gray matter volume (GMv) vary depending on how TIV variation is statistically handled. Methods Sex differences in the GMv of 116 VOIs were assessed in 356 participants (171 females) without correcting for TIV variation or after adjusting the data with 5 different methods (VBM8 non-linear-only modulation, proportions, power-corrected-proportions, covariation, and the residuals method). The outcomes obtained with these procedures were compared to each other and to those obtained in three criterial subsamples, one comparing female-male pairs matched on their TIV and two others comparing groups of either females or males with large/small TIVs. Linear regression was used to quantify TIV effects on raw GMv and the efficacy of each method in controlling for them. Results Males had larger raw GMv than females in all brain areas, but these differences were driven by direct TIV-VOIs relationships and more closely resembled the differences observed between individuals with large/small TIVs of sex-specific subsamples than the sex differences observed in the TIV-matched subsample. All TIV-adjustment methods reduced the number of sex differences but their results were very different. The VBM8- and the proportions-adjustment methods inverted TIV-VOIs relationships and resulted in larger adjusted volumes in females, promoting sex differences largely attributable to TIV variation and very distinct from those observed in the TIV-matched subsample. The other three methods provided results unrelated to TIV and very similar to those of the TIV-matched subsample. In these datasets, sex differences were bidirectional and achieved satisfactory replication rates in 19 VOIs, but they were “small” (d < ∣0.38∣) and most of them faded away after correcting for multiple comparisons. Conclusions There is not just one answer to the question of how many and how large the sex differences in GMv are, but not all the possible answers are equally valid. When TIV effects are ruled out using appropriate adjustment methods, few sex differences (if any) remain statistically significant, and their size is quite reduced. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13293-019-0245-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Carla Sanchis-Segura
- Departament de Psicologia bàsica, clínica i psicobiologia, Universitat Jaume I, Castelló, Spain.
| | | | - Jesús Adrián-Ventura
- Departament de Psicologia bàsica, clínica i psicobiologia, Universitat Jaume I, Castelló, Spain
| | - Naiara Aguirre
- Departament de Psicologia bàsica, clínica i psicobiologia, Universitat Jaume I, Castelló, Spain
| | | | - César Avila
- Departament de Psicologia bàsica, clínica i psicobiologia, Universitat Jaume I, Castelló, Spain
| | - Cristina Forn
- Departament de Psicologia bàsica, clínica i psicobiologia, Universitat Jaume I, Castelló, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Eckert MA, Vaden KI. A deformation-based approach for characterizing brain asymmetries at different spatial scales of resolution. J Neurosci Methods 2019; 322:1-9. [PMID: 30998943 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2019.04.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2019] [Revised: 03/19/2019] [Accepted: 04/12/2019] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Structural cerebral asymmetries are hypothesized to provide an architectural foundation for functional asymmetries and behavioral lateralities. Studies of structural asymmetries typically focus on gray matter measures that are influenced by gross deformation fields used for normalization, and thus characterize a combination of different morphologic influences on structural asymmetries. NEW METHOD A deformation-based morphometry approach was developed to characterize structural asymmetries at different spatial scales of resolution, which can provide relatively more specific inference about the morphologic reason(s) for structural asymmetries, using a dataset of 347 typically developing children (7.00-12.92 years). RESULTS Significant structural asymmetries were observed for a larger lobar spatial scale (e.g., frontal petalia) and for a smaller gyral/sulcal spatial scale of resolution (e.g., marginal sulcus). Total intracranial volume was significantly associated with asymmetries at the larger spatial scale of normalization, while age was significantly associated with asymmetries at the smaller scale of normalization. There were no significant anti- or fluctuating asymmetry effects based on Hartigan Dip Tests and Bonnett Tests, respectively. COMPARISON WITH EXISTING METHOD(S) While spatially similar asymmetries were observed in both gray matter and deformation field data (e.g., medial planum temporale/Heschl's gyrus), the deformation approach characterizes asymmetries based on three iterations of successively smaller scales of normalization. CONCLUSIONS Structural asymmetries can be identified in normalization deformations with a procedure that is tailored for sensitivity to structures at different spatial scales of resolution where there may be different mechanisms for the expression of asymmetry.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mark A Eckert
- Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, S.C., 29412, United States.
| | - Kenneth I Vaden
- Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, S.C., 29412, United States
| | -
- Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, S.C., 29412, United States
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
|
38
|
Chronic Alcohol Drinking Slows Brain Development in Adolescent and Young Adult Nonhuman Primates. eNeuro 2019; 6:eN-NWR-0044-19. [PMID: 30993181 PMCID: PMC6464511 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0044-19.2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2019] [Revised: 03/13/2019] [Accepted: 03/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The transition from adolescence to adulthood is associated with brain remodeling in the final stages of developmental growth. It is also a period when a large proportion of this age group engages in binge alcohol drinking (occasional consumption of four to five drinks leading to intoxication) and heavy alcohol drinking (binge drinking on ≥5 d in a month). Here we report on magnetic resonance imaging of developmental changes in the brain occurring during late adolescence and early adulthood (3.5-7.5 years of age) in a rhesus macaque model of alcohol self-administration. Monkeys were imaged prior to alcohol exposure, and following ∼6 and ∼12 months of daily (22 h/d) access to ethanol and water. The results revealed that the brain volume increases by 1 ml/1.87 years throughout the late adolescence and early adulthood in controls. Heavy alcohol drinking reduced the rate of brain growth by 0.25 ml/year per 1 g/kg daily ethanol. Cortical volume increased throughout this period with no significant effect of alcohol drinking on the cortical growth rate. In subcortical regions, age-dependent increases in the volumes of globus pallidus, thalamus, brainstem, and cerebellum were observed. Heavy drinking attenuated the growth rate of the thalamus. Thus, developmental brain volume changes in the span of late adolescence to young adulthood in macaques is altered by excessive alcohol, an insult that may be linked to the continuation of heavy drinking throughout later adult life.
Collapse
|
39
|
Goddings AL, Beltz A, Peper JS, Crone EA, Braams BR. Understanding the Role of Puberty in Structural and Functional Development of the Adolescent Brain. JOURNAL OF RESEARCH ON ADOLESCENCE : THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR RESEARCH ON ADOLESCENCE 2019; 29:32-53. [PMID: 30869842 DOI: 10.1111/jora.12408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Over the past two decades, there has been a tremendous increase in our understanding of structural and functional brain development in adolescence. However, understanding the role of puberty in this process has received much less attention. This review examines this relationship by summarizing recent research studies where the role of puberty was investigated in relation to brain structure, connectivity, and task-related functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). The studies together suggest that puberty may contribute to adolescent neural reorganization and maturational advancement, and sex differences also emerge in puberty. The current body of work shows some mixed results regarding impact and exact direction of pubertal influence. We discuss several limitations of current studies and propose future directions on how to move the field forward.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Jiska S Peper
- Leiden University
- Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
40
|
Kim GW, Kim YH, Park K, Jeong GW. A comparative study of white matter volume between postoperative female-to-male transsexuals and healthy female. Int J Impot Res 2019; 31:432-438. [PMID: 30679768 DOI: 10.1038/s41443-019-0111-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2018] [Revised: 08/14/2018] [Accepted: 12/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Cross-sex hormones in female-to-male (FtM) transsexuals play a crucial role in brain plasticity. Morphological study associated with white matter (WM) volume in postoperative FtM transsexuals receiving cross-sex hormones has not been published yet. This study was performed to discriminate the regional WM volume differences between postoperative FtM transsexuals and female controls using voxel-based morphometry (VBM) and further to assess the correlations between regional volume variations and cross-sex hormones. WM volume was assessed in 12 postoperative FtM transsexuals receiving cross-sex hormones with 16 age-matched female controls. WM volume was processed using SPM8 software with diffeomorphic anatomical registration via an exponentiated Lie algebra (DARTEL) algorithm. Serum sex hormones, including estriol, free testosterone (free-T), estradiol, follicle-stimulating hormone, and luteinizing hormone were measured. Postoperative FtM transsexuals showed significantly (p < 0.05) larger WM volumes in the inferior parietal lobule, postcentral gyrus, and middle temporal gyrus compared with female controls. However, there were no brain areas with larger WM volume in female controls compared with FtM transsexuals. WM volumes of the inferior parietal lobule and middle temporal gyrus in FtM transsexuals were positively correlated with the levels of free-T. This study revealed WM volume change and its correlation with free-T level in postoperative FtM transsexuals. These findings will improve our understanding of the morphometric changes in FtM transsexuals under cross-sex hormone therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gwang-Won Kim
- Advanced Institute of Aging Science, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, 61186, Republic of Korea
| | - Yun-Hyeon Kim
- Department of Radiology, Chonnam National University Hospital, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, 61469, Republic of Korea
| | - Kwangsung Park
- Advanced Institute of Aging Science, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, 61186, Republic of Korea.,Department of Urology, Chonnam National University Hospital, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, 61469, Republic of Korea
| | - Gwang-Woo Jeong
- Department of Radiology, Chonnam National University Hospital, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, 61469, Republic of Korea.
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Rezzani R, Franco C, Rodella LF. Sex differences of brain and their implications for personalized therapy. Pharmacol Res 2019; 141:429-442. [PMID: 30659897 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2019.01.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2018] [Revised: 01/14/2019] [Accepted: 01/15/2019] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Nowadays, it is known that the sex differences regard many organs, e.g., liver, vessels, pancreas, lungs, bronchi and also the brain. Sex differences are not just a matter of ethical and moral principles, as they are central to explain many still unknown diseases and their understanding is a prerequisite to develop an effective therapy for each individual. This review reports on those sex differences that are not only macroscopic and morphological, but also involve molecular and functional dimorphism in the brain. It will recapitulate the main structural differences between male and female brain including the neurotransmission systems; in particular, the main objective is to identify a correlation, already known or to be investigated in the future, between the differences that characterize male and female brains from a morphological and biochemical point of view and neurological syndromes. This correlation could provide a starting point for future scientific research aimed to investigate and define a personalized therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rita Rezzani
- Anatomy and Physiopathology Division, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Viale Europa 11, 25123 Brescia, Italy; Interdipartimental University Center of Research "Adaption and Regeneration of Tissues and Organs-(ARTO)", University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy.
| | - Caterina Franco
- Anatomy and Physiopathology Division, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Viale Europa 11, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Luigi F Rodella
- Anatomy and Physiopathology Division, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Viale Europa 11, 25123 Brescia, Italy; Interdipartimental University Center of Research "Adaption and Regeneration of Tissues and Organs-(ARTO)", University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
Kuo SS, Pogue-Geile MF. Variation in fourteen brain structure volumes in schizophrenia: A comprehensive meta-analysis of 246 studies. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2019; 98:85-94. [PMID: 30615934 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2018.12.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2018] [Revised: 11/21/2018] [Accepted: 12/31/2018] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Despite hundreds of structural MRI studies documenting smaller brain volumes on average in schizophrenia compared to controls, little attention has been paid to group differences in the variability of brain volumes. Examination of variability may help interpret mean group differences in brain volumes and aid in better understanding the heterogeneity of schizophrenia. Variability in 246 MRI studies was meta-analyzed for 13 structures that have shown medium to large mean effect sizes (Cohen's d≥0.4): intracranial volume, total brain volume, lateral ventricles, third ventricle, total gray matter, frontal gray matter, prefrontal gray matter, temporal gray matter, superior temporal gyrus gray matter, planum temporale, hippocampus, fusiform gyrus, insula; and a control structure, caudate nucleus. No significant differences in variability in cortical/subcortical volumes were detected in schizophrenia relative to controls. In contrast, increased variability was found in schizophrenia compared to controls for intracranial and especially lateral and third ventricle volumes. These findings highlight the need for more attention to ventricles and detailed analyses of brain volume distributions to better elucidate the pathophysiology of schizophrenia.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Susan S Kuo
- Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, 4209 Sennott Square, 210 South Bouquet St., Pittsburgh PA 15260, USA.
| | - Michael F Pogue-Geile
- Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, 4209 Sennott Square, 210 South Bouquet St., Pittsburgh PA 15260, USA; Department of Psychology and Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, 4207 Sennott Square, 210 South Bouquet St., Pittsburgh PA 15260, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
Jensen SKG, Pangelinan M, Björnholm L, Klasnja A, Leemans A, Drakesmith M, Evans CJ, Barker ED, Paus T. Associations between prenatal, childhood, and adolescent stress and variations in white-matter properties in young men. Neuroimage 2018; 182:389-397. [PMID: 29066395 PMCID: PMC5911246 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2017.10.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2017] [Revised: 08/30/2017] [Accepted: 10/16/2017] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Previous studies have shown that both pre- and post-natal adversities, the latter including exposures to stress during childhood and adolescence, explain variation in structural properties of white matter (WM) in the brain. While previous studies have examined effects of independent stress exposures within one developmental period, such as childhood, we examine effects of stress across development using data from a prospective longitudinal study. More specifically, we ask how stressful events during prenatal development, childhood, and adolescence relate to variation in WM properties in early adulthood in young men recruited from a birth cohort. METHOD Using data from 393 mother-son pairs from a community-based birth cohort from England (Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children), we examined how stressful life events relate to variation in different structural properties of WM in the corpus callosum and across the whole brain in early adulthood in men aged 18-21 years. We distinguish between stress occurring during three developmental periods: a) prenatal maternal stress, b) postnatal stress within the first four years of life, c) stress during adolescence (age 12-16 years). To obtain a comprehensive quantification of variation in WM, we assess structural properties of WM using four different measures, namely fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusivity (MD), magnetization transfer ratio (MTR) and myelin water fraction (MWF). RESULTS The developmental model shows that prenatal stress is associated with lower MTR and MWF in the genu and/or splenium of the corpus callosum, and with lower MTR in global (lobar) WM. Stress during early childhood is associated with higher MTR in the splenium, and stress during adolescence is associated with higher MTR in the genu and lower MD in the splenium. We see no associations between postnatal stress and variation in global (lobar) WM. CONCLUSIONS The current study found evidence for independent effects of stress on WM properties during distinct neurodevelopmental periods. We speculate that these independent effects are due to differences in the developmental processes unfolding at different developmental time points. We suggest that associations between prenatal stress and WM properties may relate to abnormalities in neurogenesis, affecting the number and density of axons, while postnatal stress may interfere with processes related to myelination or radial growth of axons. Potential consequences of prenatal glucocorticoid exposure should be considered in obstetric care.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah K G Jensen
- Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College, London, United Kingdom; Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | | | - Anja Klasnja
- Rotman Research Institute, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Alexander Leemans
- Image Sciences Institute, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Mark Drakesmith
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - C J Evans
- CUBRIC, School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Edward D Barker
- Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College, London, United Kingdom
| | - Tomáš Paus
- Rotman Research Institute, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Departments of Psychology and Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada; Child Mind Institute, New York, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
Macey PM, Prasad JP, Ogren JA, Moiyadi AS, Aysola RS, Kumar R, Yan-Go FL, Woo MA, Albert Thomas M, Harper RM. Sex-specific hippocampus volume changes in obstructive sleep apnea. NEUROIMAGE-CLINICAL 2018; 20:305-317. [PMID: 30101062 PMCID: PMC6083433 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2018.07.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2018] [Revised: 07/05/2018] [Accepted: 07/25/2018] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Introduction Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients show hippocampal-related autonomic and neurological symptoms, including impaired memory and depression, which differ by sex, and are mediated in distinct hippocampal subfields. Determining sites and extent of hippocampal sub-regional injury in OSA could reveal localized structural damage linked with OSA symptoms. Methods High-resolution T1-weighted images were collected from 66 newly-diagnosed, untreated OSA (mean age ± SD: 46.3 ± 8.8 years; mean AHI ± SD: 34.1 ± 21.5 events/h;50 male) and 59 healthy age-matched control (46.8 ± 9.0 years;38 male) participants. We added age-matched controls with T1-weighted scans from two datasets (IXI, OASIS-MRI), for 979 controls total (426 male/46.5 ± 9.9 years). We segmented the hippocampus and analyzed surface structure with “FSL FIRST” software, scaling volumes for brain size, and evaluated group differences with ANCOVA (covariates: total-intracranial-volume, sex; P < .05, corrected). Results In OSA relative to controls, the hippocampus showed small areas larger volume bilaterally in CA1 (surface displacement ≤0.56 mm), subiculum, and uncus, and smaller volume in right posterior CA3/dentate (≥ − 0.23 mm). OSA vs. control males showed higher bilateral volume (≤0.61 mm) throughout CA1 and subiculum, extending to head and tail, with greater right-sided increases; lower bilateral volumes (≥ − 0.45 mm) appeared in mid- and posterior-CA3/dentate. OSA vs control females showed only right-sided effects, with increased CA1 and subiculum/uncus volumes (≤0.67 mm), and decreased posterior CA3/dentate volumes (≥ − 0.52 mm). Unlike males, OSA females showed volume decreases in the right hippocampus head and tail. Conclusions The hippocampus shows lateralized and sex-specific, OSA-related regional volume differences, which may contribute to sex-related expression of symptoms in the sleep disorder. Volume increases suggest inflammation and glial activation, whereas volume decreases suggest long-lasting neuronal injury; both processes may contribute to dysfunction in OSA. The hippocampus in OSA shows areas of increased and decreased volume. The injury is sex-specific, in subregions related to symptoms in females and males. Injury may be inflammation (volume increases) or cell death (volume decreases).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Paul M Macey
- UCLA School of Nursing, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, United States; Brain Research Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, United States.
| | - Janani P Prasad
- UCLA School of Nursing, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, United States
| | - Jennifer A Ogren
- Department of Neurobiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, United States
| | - Ammar S Moiyadi
- Department of Neurobiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, United States
| | - Ravi S Aysola
- Medicine-Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, United States
| | - Rajesh Kumar
- Brain Research Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, United States; Anesthesiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, United States; Radiological Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, United States
| | - Frisca L Yan-Go
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, United States
| | - Mary A Woo
- UCLA School of Nursing, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, United States
| | - M Albert Thomas
- Radiological Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, United States
| | - Ronald M Harper
- Brain Research Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, United States; Department of Neurobiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, United States
| |
Collapse
|
45
|
Trajectories of imaging markers in brain aging: the Rotterdam Study. Neurobiol Aging 2018; 71:32-40. [PMID: 30077040 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2018.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 95] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2018] [Revised: 06/09/2018] [Accepted: 07/01/2018] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
With aging, the brain undergoes several structural changes. These changes reflect the normal aging process and are therefore not necessarily pathologic. In fact, better understanding of these normal changes is an important cornerstone to also disentangle pathologic changes. Several studies have investigated normal brain aging, both cross-sectional and longitudinal, and focused on a broad range of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) markers. This study aims to comprise the different aspects in brain aging, by performing a comprehensive longitudinal assessment of brain aging, providing trajectories of volumetric (global and lobar; subcortical and cortical), microstructural, and focal (presence of microbleeds, lacunar or cortical infarcts) brain imaging markers in aging and the sequence in which these markers change in aging. Trajectories were calculated on 10,755 MRI scans that were acquired between 2005 and 2016 among 5286 persons aged 45 years and older from the population-based Rotterdam Study. The average number of MRI scans per participant was 2 scans (ranging from 1 to 4 scans), with a mean interval between MRI scans of 3.3 years (ranging from 0.2 to 9.5 years) and an average follow-up time of 5.2 years (ranging from 0.3 to 9.8 years). We found that trajectories of the different volumetric, microstructural, and focal markers show nonlinear curves, with accelerating change with advancing age. We found earlier acceleration of change in global and lobar volumetric and microstructural markers in men compared with women. For subcortical and cortical volumes, results show a mix of more linear and nonlinear trajectories, either increasing, decreasing, or stable over age for the subcortical and cortical volume and thickness. Differences between men and women are visible in several parcellations; however, the direction of these differences is mixed. The presence of focal markers show a nonlinear increase with age, with men having a higher probability for cortical or lacunar infarcts. The data presented in this study provide insight into the normal aging process in the brain, and its variability.
Collapse
|
46
|
Chagas AP, Monteiro M, Mazer V, Baltar A, Marques D, Carneiro M, Rodrigues de Araújo MDG, Piscitelli D, Monte-Silva K. Cortical excitability variability: Insights into biological and behavioral characteristics of healthy individuals. J Neurol Sci 2018; 390:172-177. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jns.2018.04.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2016] [Revised: 04/13/2018] [Accepted: 04/20/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
|
47
|
Geary DC. Evolutionary perspective on sex differences in the expression of neurological diseases. Prog Neurobiol 2018; 176:33-53. [PMID: 29890214 DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2018.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2017] [Revised: 04/25/2018] [Accepted: 06/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Sex-specific brain and cognitive deficits emerge with malnutrition, some infectious and neurodegenerative diseases, and often with prenatal or postnatal toxin exposure. These deficits are described in disparate literatures and are generally not linked to one another. Sexual selection may provide a unifying framework that integrates our understanding of these deficits and provides direction for future studies of sex-specific vulnerabilities. Sexually selected traits are those that have evolved to facilitate competition for reproductive resources or that influence mate choices, and are often larger and more complex than other traits. Critically, malnutrition, disease, chronic social stress, and exposure to man-made toxins compromise the development and expression of sexually selected traits more strongly than that of other traits. The fundamental mechanism underlying vulnerability might be the efficiency of mitochondrial energy capture and control of oxidative stress that in turn links these traits to current advances in neuroenergetics, stress endocrinology, and toxicology. The key idea is that the elaboration of these cognitive abilities, with more underlying gray matter or more extensive inter-modular white matter connections, makes them particularly sensitive to disruptions in mitochondrial functioning and oxidative stress. A framework of human sexually selected cognitive abilities and underlying brain systems is proposed and used to organize what is currently known about sex-specific vulnerabilities.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- David C Geary
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Interdisciplinary Neuroscience, University of Missouri, MO, 65211-2500, Columbia, United States.
| |
Collapse
|
48
|
Mohammadi MR, Khaleghi A. Transsexualism: A Different Viewpoint to Brain Changes. CLINICAL PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY AND NEUROSCIENCE 2018; 16:136-143. [PMID: 29739126 PMCID: PMC5953012 DOI: 10.9758/cpn.2018.16.2.136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2017] [Revised: 02/12/2018] [Accepted: 02/13/2018] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Transsexualism refers to a condition or belief which results in gender dysphoria in individuals and makes them insist that their biological gender is different from their psychological and experienced gender. Although the etiology of gender dysphoria (or transsexualism) is still unknown, different neuroimaging studies show that structural and functional changes of the brain result from this sexual incongruence. The question here is whether these reported changes form part of the etiology of transsexualism or themselves result from transsexualism culture, behaviors and lifestyle. Responding to this question can be more precise by consideration of cultural neuroscience concepts, particularly the culture–behavior–brain (CBB) loop model and the interactions between behavior, culture and brain. In this article, we first review the studies on the brain of transgender people and then we will discuss the validity of this claim based on the CBB loop model. In summary, transgender individuals experience change in lifestyle, context of beliefs and concepts and, as a result, their culture and behaviors. Given the close relationship and interaction between culture, behavior and brain, the individual’s brain adapts itself to the new condition (culture) and concepts and starts to alter its function and structure.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Reza Mohammadi
- Psychiatry & Psychology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ali Khaleghi
- Psychiatry & Psychology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| |
Collapse
|
49
|
Shulla RM, Toomey RB. Sex differences in behavioral and psychological expression of grief during adolescence: A meta-analysis. J Adolesc 2018; 65:219-227. [PMID: 29674176 DOI: 10.1016/j.adolescence.2018.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2017] [Revised: 03/28/2018] [Accepted: 04/02/2018] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
This meta-analysis synthesizes the results of 14 independent studies conducted in the U.S. (N = 6979 participants) that examined sex differences in internalized, externalized, and PTSD symptoms associated with grief during adolescence. The mean age of participants was 12.22 years (SD = 2.31) with 50% male and 50% female sex assigned at birth. While no mean-level differences were found between adolescent females and males in externalizing behaviors associated with grief (d = 0.03), on average, females reported higher levels of internalized grief responses (d = 0.18) and higher levels of PTSD symptoms (d = 0.36) than their male counterparts. Findings suggest the need for additional, more nuanced research to investigate possible sex differences in externalized behaviors relating to grief. In addition, research should examine whether tailored therapeutic and intervention measures and resources are needed for adolescents experiencing internalized grief and PTSD symptoms given sex differences in these reactions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rachel M Shulla
- Family Studies and Human Development, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Russell B Toomey
- Family Studies and Human Development, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
50
|
Chang CL, Chiu NC, Yang YC, Ho CS, Hung KL. Normal Development of the Corpus Callosum and Evolution of Corpus Callosum Sexual Dimorphism in Infancy. JOURNAL OF ULTRASOUND IN MEDICINE : OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF ULTRASOUND IN MEDICINE 2018; 37:869-877. [PMID: 28990212 DOI: 10.1002/jum.14420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2017] [Revised: 06/16/2017] [Accepted: 07/05/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to establish reference ranges for the corpus callosum in infancy and to clarify how sexual dimorphism evolves between the fetal stage and infancy. METHODS Normal sonograms from cerebral ultrasonographic examinations of 1- to 6-month-old healthy full-term infants were selected. The length and thickness of the corpus callosum were determined, and the effect of sex on these values was analyzed. Studies on corpus callosum sexual dimorphism were reviewed. RESULTS In total, sonograms from 236 1- to 6-month-old infants (120 male and 116 female) were collected, and the typical values (5th-95th percentiles) of the corpus callosum were determined for each group. During the first 2 months, with and without brain size adjustment, the corpus callosum in female infants was significantly thicker than that in male infants (mean thickness ± SD: 1 month, male infant, 1.8 ± 0.3 mm; female infant, 2.1 ± 0.3 mm; P = .005; 2 months, male infant, 1.8 ± 0.2 mm; female infant, 2.0 ± 0.3 mm; P = .002). The corpus callosum thickness of male and female infants had no significant differences after 2 months of age. Sexual dimorphism was not detected in corpus callosum length. CONCLUSIONS Our study provides reference data on typical corpus callosum development in infants. In the fetal period and early infancy, the corpus callosum in female infants is thicker than that in male infants. From 3 months onward, the corpus callosum sexual dimorphism becomes insignificant throughout childhood. The evolvement of corpus callosum sexual dimorphism suggests that maternal factors may influence brain development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chaw-Liang Chang
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, National Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
- Department of Pediatrics, Cathay General Hospital, Hsinchu, Taiwan
- Department of Center for Medical Education and Research, Cathay General Hospital, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Nan-Chang Chiu
- Department of Pediatrics, MacKay Children's Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Pediatrics, Mackay Junior College of Medicine, Nursing, and Management, New Taipei City, Taiwan Department of Pediatrics (K.-L.H.), Cathay General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Chen Yang
- Department of Center for Medical Education and Research, Cathay General Hospital, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Che-Sheng Ho
- Department of Pediatrics, MacKay Children's Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Pediatrics, Mackay Junior College of Medicine, Nursing, and Management, New Taipei City, Taiwan Department of Pediatrics (K.-L.H.), Cathay General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Kun-Long Hung
- Department of Pediatrics, Cathay General Hospital, Hsinchu, Taiwan
- Department of Pediatrics School of Medicine, Fu-Jen Catholic University, New Taipei City, Taiwan
| |
Collapse
|